Fabric is bringing back its most famous saddle. The new ALM:HALO weighs 145 grams, is made from one piece of carbon and costs €329. For the first time, there is also a version with a pressure-relieving channel: the ALM:HALO Ergo.
Back to the Airbus engineers
The original ALM saddle was launched more than ten years ago. Fabric developed it together with engineers from the aircraft manufacturer Airbus. It was a one-piece saddle, with very thin foam, which turned out to be surprisingly comfortable. This was due to the rails, which acted like a leaf spring.
For the new version, Fabric again sought out the same engineers. They are now working at the National Composites Centre in England. There, the old ALM was tested until it broke, to see exactly where it could be improved.
Two problems solved
According to Fabric, many saddles suffer from two things:
- Hanging effect: The center of the saddle sinks under your weight. At first it feels soft, but after a while it actually presses down, especially if you tilt your pelvis a lot.
- Wipe effect: The wings of the saddle bend downwards when you step hard. The rail attachment then acts as a pivot point, causing the center of the saddle to push upward in your seating position.
The solution is called HALO. Fabric connected the two rear rails to form a solid base. This prevents the saddle from tilting when you apply pressure. The wings are shaped so that they naturally slope downwards, allowing the rails to still act like leaf springs.
Technology from Formula 1
To quickly test variants, Fabric Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP) was used. With this technique, continuous carbon fibers are sewn exactly where they are needed in Formula 1. The final saddle is hand-assembled from carbon and then formed in a mold under heat. Only the material needed is used.
New: the Ergo version
Anyone experiencing numbness or pressure pain can now also choose an ALM with a channel in the middle. With the ALM:HALO Ergo, the base is open, but the foam extends over it. This keeps the sleek look, and no dirt or water gets through the hole, as is the case with regular saddles with a cutout.
Specifications and price
- Construction: carbon, one-piece (unibody)
- Rails: HALO design, oval 10 x 7 mm
- Weight: 145 grams (for the Ergo, Fabric does not specify a separate weight)
- Dimensions: 265 x 142 mm
- Price: €329 (UK £299, US $329)
- For sale: via fabric.cc and Fabric dealers
Our verdict
The fabric doesn’t change the shape, but it does what happens under your seat. A sturdy base against tipping over, and yet the springy rails that the old ALM was known for: on paper, that is exactly the right direction. Whether that also feels that way in practice, we would like to test for ourselves. With the Ergo version, the saddle is definitely interesting for a much larger group of riders. At 145 grams and €329, it is a saddle for riders who want light weight and know what they are looking for. With a saddle with so little foam, trial sitting remains the advice.
Source: Fabric